Srilankametrus yaleensis

Srilankametrus yaleensis is a species of scorpion in the family Scorpionidae endemic to Sri Lanka.[1][2]

Srilankametrus yaleensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Scorpionidae
Genus: Srilankametrus
Species:
S. yaleensis
Binomial name
Srilankametrus yaleensis
(Kovarik, Ranawana, Jayarathne, Hoferek & Stahlavsky, 2019)
Synonyms
  • Heterometrus yaleensis Kovarik, Ranawana, Jayarathne, Hoferek & Stahlavsky, 2019[1]

Etymology

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The species name is named after Yala National Park,[3] the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is the region where both type specimens of the species were recorded.[4]

Description

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The total length of males is 75 mm and 103 mm in female. The body is uniformly reddish brown to black in color. The telson appears yellowish to reddish brown. Legs are yellow to reddish brown but lighter than body. Chelicerae are yellow with dark reticulation. Anterior manus and fingers are reddish black. Pedipalps are orthobothriotaxic type C. There are 13 to 14 pectinal teeth. In males, pedipalp chela, femur and patella are narrower and longer than in females. Chelae are lobiform and strongly tuberculate with pronounced carinae. Patella of pedipalp consists of several small internal tubercles. Carapace appears smooth, and very sparsely granulated laterally. Tergites are smooth and do not exhibit carinae. Telson are hirsute and elongate. Telson vesicle is similar in size to aculeus.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Prendini, Lorenzo; Loria, Stephanie (2020). "Systematic revision of the Asian forest scorpions (Heterometrinae Simon, 1879), revised suprageneric classification of Scorpionidae Latreille, 1802, and revalidation of Rugodentidae Bastawade et al., 2005". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 442. 442. American Museum of Natural History: 1–480. doi:10.1206/0003-0090.442.1.1. S2CID 222348199.
  2. ^ Wijesooriya, Kumudu B.; Weerasekara, Lakshani S.; Ranawana, Kithsiri B. (2020). "Diversity of scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in Polonnaruwa Archaeological Reserve, Sri Lanka". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 12 (15): 17121–17128. doi:10.11609/jott.6238.12.15.17121-17128. S2CID 229442969. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  3. ^ "An intrusive killer scorpion points the way to six new species in Sri Lanka". Mongabay Environmental News. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  4. ^ a b Kovařík, František; Ranawana, Kithsiri B.; Jayarathne, V. A. Sanjeewa; Hoferek, David; Šťáhlavský, František (2019). "Scorpions of Sri Lanka (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part III. Heterometrus yaleensis sp. n. (Scorpionidae)". Euscorpius. 2019 (283): 1–13. doi:10.18590/euscorpius.2019.vol2019.iss283.1. S2CID 201192639. Retrieved 2021-08-31.